My home is hooked into the city water system. What are the features to look for in a water purification system that would filter the whole house? Margaret, Black Mountain NC

The main concerns with city water are chemicals such as chlorine that are used for disinfection of microbes. Other in-organics, including heavy metals, nitrates and nitrites (fertilizer run-off), drug residue and organic chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride (discharge from chemical plants) are also of concern,. More and more people are becoming aware of the real hazards of drinking non-filtered water.

The most effective systems are carbon/KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion media). These systems filter the in-organics such as chlorine as well as organic contaminants. The media does this without significantly removing the minerals from the water. A post ceramic filter can prevent the need of UV light and actually filters out any organisms such as cryptosporidium (from human and fecal animal waste). The systems can range from $1200—$3400 when installed on the main water line coming into the home.

One important factor is to choose a system with back-wash capabilities to ensure the life of the carbon as well as eliminating the need for a sediment filter which would have to be changed regularly to prevent restrictive water flow and contamination of the carbon.

Audrey Franklin is a chemist in the Atlanta area who founded Pure Life Inc. in 1995 to support the need for environmental awareness. Pure Life specializes in air and water filtration as well as environmentally safe building products for residential and commercial use. Their toll free number is 800-510-8342 or visit purelifeinc.com.

What’s the deal with Energy Star lights? Can’t I just get a normal light fixture and use a compact fluorescent bulb for energy efficiency, or is there something special about the specialty lights?

From the information found on the Energy Star website, I found that the main difference is that an energy star light fixture actually distributes the light more efficiently and evenly than standard fixtures. These fixtures can only accept compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). This makes a huge difference, especially if they are permanent fixtures in a home. Since a standard incandescent bulb cannot be installed, it guarantees that the light will save money over the long haul, not just while an energy-conscious homeowner is occupying the space. This would come into play should you be seeking an Energy Efficient Mortgage.

Retrofitting an existing light fixture to accept CFLs is a worthwhile investment. One benefit is that the light bulb produces less heat. This reduces the cooling load on the home during the summertime. It also means that the fixture can be airsealed, if it is accessible from the attic. This will save a tremendous amount of money during the winter months when the home is being heated. Since many older recessed fixtures are inherently leaky (this is how the fixture protects itself from overheating), there is a lot of heat and moisture that exits the building through these tiny holes in the winter. This “leakiness” not only increases the energy consumption of the house (lighting + heating), but it also creates a drafty/dry environment and increases the likelihood of this interior moisture making its way to the cold roof deck where condensation and mold growth could occur.

An interesting fact about CFLs: If every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with an Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road.

To learn more about the benefits of Energy Star lighting and compact fluorescent lighting in general, please visit the Energy Star website at www.EnergyStar.gov

Isaac Savage is president of Home Energy Partners, a Building Performance Contracting firm that is located in Asheville, NC. He can be reached at 828-350-1155 or on the web at www.HomeEnergyPartners.com

Since I have wood floors upstairs I am looking to purchase some area rugs to protect some of the areas that will get a lot of traffic or living. What are the properties/benefits/costs with some “green” carpet choices?

The benefits of using any area rug over a hardwood floor include acoustic and thermal value and aesthetics (softening the hardwood). In addition to these benefits, the most important benefit of using a green area rug option is lower toxicity for both the family and the environment.
Your family’s health should take precedence when choosing floor finishes and coverings. Unfortunately, truly green area rugs are more challenging to find; there are a handful of suppliers across the USA. Some of the lesser toxic choices include sisal, jute, hemp wool and other natural fibers. While these are available in many mainstream stores now, they are often still promoters of indoor air pollution because surface treatments (Teflon) may be added, or the rugs may be treated with pesticides if they are imported (required by law in some countries). You should always ask if these toxins are applied prior to purchase.

An area rug is not green if it is harmful to your health or the health of the environment. I would advise you to choose natural fibers that I mentioned earlier rather than synthetic rugs like nylon, olefin, and polypropylene. Synthetic choices move away from green due to their make up of petroleum and chemically-based raw materials and the manufacturing needs around those materials-- not to mention the higher toxicity levels in these carpet products.

The costs for some of the truly natural fiber rugs can be competitive with the synthetic choices, especially sisal and jute. Wool can be up to fifty percent higher in cost than the synthetic choices. Wool is naturally much more durable than any synthetic, which is a big benefit for high traffic areas where wear is bound to show up. Wool also has a natural stain resistance when moisture is involved; it naturally wicks liquid rather than absorbing it. Sisal and jute are super durable fibers, showing virtually no wear, but they have some limited use. Because they are grass-type fibers, they cannot be stretched like wool can, so using them on stairs is not recommended.

Natural fiber rugs have a tendency to stain easily if the spill is left to sit on the fiber too long. The trick is to dry clean these fibers by addressing the spill immediately by using dry towels. Once the spill is taken up, in a couple of hours the rug should dry leaving no stains. This requires a learning curve for most folks because they are used to using wet towels and cleaners to clean up a stain. Unfortunately, moisture and chemical cleaners will cause a natural grass fiber to buckle and for the stain to actually spread as the moisture does.

In most applications, I have seen that the benefits and properties of greener area rugs far outweigh the cost comparisons and toxic issues around synthetic choices.

Cindy Meehan-Patton is President of Shelter Ecology, Inc. founded in 1992 and offering green and healthy home products, healthy home consultations, and architectural and interior design services.www.shelterecology.com

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